this image is supposed to be free but IDK? Well I will link where I found it: https://www.dreamstime.com/photos-images/grave-reaper.html
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Unca's ginsberg death watch thread
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Son of Gloin
Certainty of death? What are we waiting for?
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Maybe I am living in an alternate universe, but I swear I heard RBG was taken to the hospital again, about or within four days ago. I was doing something else and a live stream video was playing and they interrupted to say that, and then I heard it a short time later on the radio. Then nothing. Had some time a day or so later and looked for what happened, could only find the previous hospitalization. Anybody know anything about this?
Or was it all a dream?
Or was it all a dream?
Son of Gloin
Certainty of death? What are we waiting for?
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I love that story. It is true.
His fighter collided with a Bf-109. Since one of his legs had been severed above the knee, coming down in a parachute on his "tin leg" would be very much like landing on a fence post. But the collision caused that leg to be stuck in the falling plane.
The strap holding his leg broke after a long, plunging struggle. He bailed out, and another Bf-109 came by. The German pilot saw the empty pant leg flapping up, and figured that the Brit in front of him was a dead man and left him alone.
He was taken to a hospital, where he escaped from the second floor. A Frog turned him in to the Krauts.
He was sent to Colditz Castle (I have been there... in awe...) where only POW's who had escaped from other Stalags were sent. It turns out his tin legs (the Germans returned them -- repaired) were great hiding places for contraband.
His fighter collided with a Bf-109. Since one of his legs had been severed above the knee, coming down in a parachute on his "tin leg" would be very much like landing on a fence post. But the collision caused that leg to be stuck in the falling plane.
The strap holding his leg broke after a long, plunging struggle. He bailed out, and another Bf-109 came by. The German pilot saw the empty pant leg flapping up, and figured that the Brit in front of him was a dead man and left him alone.
He was taken to a hospital, where he escaped from the second floor. A Frog turned him in to the Krauts.
He was sent to Colditz Castle (I have been there... in awe...) where only POW's who had escaped from other Stalags were sent. It turns out his tin legs (the Germans returned them -- repaired) were great hiding places for contraband.
HAH... It looks like I answered you SoG... But I'd already typed out the whole note above.
Another background story: The radio transmissions of the RAF fighter pilots over England in the BoB were broadcast in the War Room where the maps were continually updated by the WRENs. Douglas Bader was famous for the "salty" commentary he cut loose with.
The ladies often were seen either blushing or snickering.
Another background story: The radio transmissions of the RAF fighter pilots over England in the BoB were broadcast in the War Room where the maps were continually updated by the WRENs. Douglas Bader was famous for the "salty" commentary he cut loose with.
The ladies often were seen either blushing or snickering.
SOMEWHERE I have a photo taken of Bader in a Bf-109 cockpit with a couple of Luftwaffe pilots showing him the ropes.
There are two stories connected to that photo (besides and in addition to the obvious mutual respect demonstrated):
1. At the moment that photo was taken, Bader was very seriously considering pushing the near guy into the other guy, slamming the cockpit closed and stealing the fargin plane!
2. Douglas Bader saw the photo after the war, and was glad he had decided not to do Choice Number 1. Because in the picture, there is another Luftwaffe pilot with his Luger pointed at the back of Bader's head!
There are two stories connected to that photo (besides and in addition to the obvious mutual respect demonstrated):
1. At the moment that photo was taken, Bader was very seriously considering pushing the near guy into the other guy, slamming the cockpit closed and stealing the fargin plane!
2. Douglas Bader saw the photo after the war, and was glad he had decided not to do Choice Number 1. Because in the picture, there is another Luftwaffe pilot with his Luger pointed at the back of Bader's head!
Son of Gloin
Certainty of death? What are we waiting for?
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I actually cut his POW story short. The Krauts got so damned pissed off at him -- they moved him to about four different Stalags after catching him escaping from them -- and after he had been AWOL for about five days from the next-to-last Stalag, the Kraut commander threatened to confiscate his legs!
But the OKW said that would be too damn' embarrassing.
But the OKW said that would be too damn' embarrassing.
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One time, he escaped by blending in with an impressed-labor work group. The word got out from the Stalag that Bader had escaped once again, and they should check their charges.
So one Kraut guard is checking, and sees Bader. Walks up to him and says, "stand at attention". Bader gave him the 2-finger Good Luck symbol, so the Kraut guard smashed him Mauser rifle stock down on his foot.
Bader just grinned at the Kraut, infuriating him. He hit the other foot with the rifle stock, and the Kraut officer came over to the guard and said, "Stop making a complete ass of yourself! This officer has no legs!"
Bader grinned even wider and said, "I do too have legs! They just don't go all the way to the ground!"
So one Kraut guard is checking, and sees Bader. Walks up to him and says, "stand at attention". Bader gave him the 2-finger Good Luck symbol, so the Kraut guard smashed him Mauser rifle stock down on his foot.
Bader just grinned at the Kraut, infuriating him. He hit the other foot with the rifle stock, and the Kraut officer came over to the guard and said, "Stop making a complete ass of yourself! This officer has no legs!"
Bader grinned even wider and said, "I do too have legs! They just don't go all the way to the ground!"
Anyone who watches the above old video will completely understand why he is my hero.
I've been in situations where I've gone from terrified... then thought about POW Bader INSPECTING the ranks of Germans... and I've shifted over to: "Bugger. I can handle this easily."
That program did not tell all of his exploits. My nod to his excellence is having him in my novel, "The Bat and Balloon War -- An Alternate History of WWII". The description of the Oyster Reach where he "held court" in the novel is accurate.
Rank was not noted at the Oyster Reach. Nevertheless, when Bader was there, things were different. In my research for the book, I found that senior officers deferred to him there, and he was idolized by the lower ranks. One quote from one of the originals:
"It was as if there was a spotlight on Douglas no matter where he sat at the Reach. He was always the center of attention."
Folks, you cannot MAKE people react like that unless you are someone of the caliber of Wing Commander Sir Douglas Bader.
I've been in situations where I've gone from terrified... then thought about POW Bader INSPECTING the ranks of Germans... and I've shifted over to: "Bugger. I can handle this easily."
That program did not tell all of his exploits. My nod to his excellence is having him in my novel, "The Bat and Balloon War -- An Alternate History of WWII". The description of the Oyster Reach where he "held court" in the novel is accurate.
Rank was not noted at the Oyster Reach. Nevertheless, when Bader was there, things were different. In my research for the book, I found that senior officers deferred to him there, and he was idolized by the lower ranks. One quote from one of the originals:
"It was as if there was a spotlight on Douglas no matter where he sat at the Reach. He was always the center of attention."
Folks, you cannot MAKE people react like that unless you are someone of the caliber of Wing Commander Sir Douglas Bader.
